Device for supplying electrical power to detectors, control devices and signaling devices

ABSTRACT

A device for supplying electrical power to detectors, control systems, and signaling systems is described, in which the power supply line can be implemented as a ring. Each of the peripheral consumers connected to the ring has a power supply device which connects through the power supply line to the next power supply device depending on a minimum voltage. Power supply terminals, which detect short-circuits and/or interruptions on the power supply ring and therefore the lack of power supply to a detector, are each connected to a ring input and a ring output. Alternatively, the power supply line may be implemented as a spur line, with power supply then provided up to an occurring short-circuit or an interruption. In the case of the spur line, the control center is informed in that it receives signals from the individual detectors about an existing power supply via an alarm line.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for supplying electrical powerto detectors, control systems, and signaling systems.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Conventional alarm signaling systems, in particular fire alarm systemsand/or burglar alarm systems, have detectors, control systems, andsignaling systems widely distributed in the regions to be monitored. Thepower supply of the detectors, control systems, and signaling systemsis, for example, provided via a core pair to which all peripheralconsumers, i.e., the detectors, control systems, and signaling systems,are connected in parallel. The core pair originates at the alarmsignaling control center. As used herein, control center refers to analarm signaling control center or system. In the event of ashort-circuit, the control center reacts in such a way that allconsumers lose power, since the power supply is disconnected from thepower supply line by the control center.

A further method for supplying the detectors, control systems, andsignaling systems of the control center with power is for everyperipheral consumer to be supplied using a separate power supply unitand/or a battery or a separate line originating at the control center.If the peripheral consumers are each supplied using their own line,which originates at the alarm signaling control center, then anindividual fuse to protect against short-circuits is required in eachcase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the present invention for supplying electricalpower to detectors, control systems, and signaling systems has theadvantage over the related art that the power supply for the peripheralconsumers, i.e., the detectors, control systems, and signaling systems,does not fail in the event of a short-circuit, although the peripheralconsumers are connected to a power supply line. This is because eachdetector has an overcurrent detector and a disconnection element of itsown to interrupt the power supply line using the disconnection elementin the event of a short-circuit, so that the power supply originating atthe control center is not loaded by a short-circuit. At the same time,only one power supply line is necessary, so that significant materialand outlay for individual fuses to protect against short-circuits may besaved.

It is particularly advantageous if during the startup of the powersupply each detector or each control system or signaling systemautomatically determines whether a short-circuit exists on the followingsection of line. The following line is connected or disconnected to thepower supply depending the outcome of this determination. The powersupply system maintains this state for the respective detector until thepower supply is switched off by the control center. If a short-circuitoccurs after an undisrupted startup, the power supply terminal in thecontrol center detects an overcurrent, switches the power supply off,and begins a new startup of the power supply. An interruption in thepower supply line is identified when one or more detectors is notsupplied with energy and the alarm line of the control center does notenter the idle state. With more modern alarm line technology, thedetectors affected can also be identified. This allows targeted andrapid repair and provides an indication as to which regions problems mayexist.

It is particularly advantageous if the power supply line is implementedas a ring so that, in the event of an interruption or a short-circuitbetween two detectors or control and signaling systems, the detectors,control systems, and signaling systems may be supplied with electricalpower from two sides. In this way, a short-circuit or an interruptionmay be remedied easily. For this purpose, each detector or control andsignaling system has a power supply device for supplying electricalpower which may be supplied in both directions.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the control center has a counter in apower supply terminal at the ring output that can monitor the wiring ofthe power supply line outwardly from the ring input. If the countercounts to a predetermined value, then the control center determines thatthe voltage is not connected through from the ring input up to the ringoutput, with the counter being stopped as soon as the power supplyvoltage is detected at the ring output. In this case, neither aninterruption nor a short-circuit is present and all components connectedto the power supply line are supplied with electrical power. If thecounter counts to zero, a short-circuit and/or an interruption isdetected, so that the power supply line then has electrical powerapplied to it outwardly from the ring output in order to supplyelectrical power to the peripheral consumers not yet supplied. In thisway, a short-circuit and/or an interruption occurring in the ring isisolated and does not lead to detectors or control systems or signalingsystems, which may be supplied with electrical power outward from thering input and/or output, remaining without power. During operation,supply outward from the ring input or from the ring output also offersthe possibility of reacting to a short-circuit or an interruptionoccurring during operation. In this case, the control center is notinformed in that the individual detectors, control systems, or signalingsystems having their power supply devices according to the presentinvention notify the control center via the alarm line that ashort-circuit or an interruption exists. The power supply terminal inthe control center automatically determines in this case whether amalfunction exists on the power supply ring. Therefore, it isadditionally possible to flexibly operate the power supply outwardlyfrom the ring input or from the ring output. Thus, if an interruption ora short-circuit exists, this short-circuit is isolated, the interruptionitself is already isolated, and the consumer on the ring is suppliedwith electrical power from both ring directions. Therefore, the presentinvention leads to a more reliable system.

In this case, it is also advantageous if the individual consumers whichare connected to the ring or, particularly, to a spur line, communicatea notification regarding successful power supply to the control centervia the alarm line so that the control center is instantaneouslyinformed about the power supply of the individual consumers.

It is further advantageous in this case if, in the event of ashort-circuit, i.e., an overcurrent or an interruption, the controlcenter triggers signaling to inform users of this condition. Suchsignaling includes either a display, an acoustic signal, or anelectronically transmitted notification. Combinations of these signalingpossibilities may also be used.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if each power supply device according tothe present invention is operable at a distance from the housing of thedetector of the control or signaling system, so that the power supplydevice according to the present invention may be used for each detector.In addition, there are also detectors which may be supplied withsufficient electrical power via the alarm line alone, so that the powersupply line does not have to be connected through in this case. Theremote design also makes the maintenance of the consumer and the deviceaccording to the present invention significantly simpler.

In addition, it is advantageous if the control center has ananalog/digital converter, which provides for detection of creepingshort-circuits or interruptions. This allows preventive countermeasuresin order to ensure the operation of an alarm signaling system withoutinterruptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of the alarm signaling system as a ringaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a design of the power supply terminal at the ring inputaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a design of the power supply terminal at the ring outputaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a design of the power supply device according to anembodiment of the present invention which is operated in a remotehousing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Current alarm lines in security technology have significantly morecentral and peripheral intelligence, e.g., the local security network(LSN), than in the past. These systems are capable of maintaining fullfunctionality in the event of simple short-circuits or interruptions.They are generally not implemented as a spur line, but in ringconfiguration, i.e., the LSN core pair begins in the control center andleads by the peripheral detectors and other devices in various fireregions or burglary alarm regions as a ring line and then returns to thecontrol center.

Therefore, according to the present invention, devices for supplyingelectrical power to detectors, control systems, and signaling systemsare improved in such a way that the electrical power supply to thedetectors, the control systems, and the signaling systems is maintainedin the event of short-circuits and interruptions. This is achieved inthat every detector, every control system, and every signaling systemwhich is connected to the power supply line is equipped with a powersupply device having a disconnection element and its own overcurrentdetector and/or limiter. Thus, distributed intelligence is implementedin an alarm signaling system in regard to the identification ofshort-circuits and interruptions.

If an overcurrent recognition system of a peripheral consumer identifiesa short-circuit during the startup procedure of the power supply, thedisconnection element of the power supply device is opened so that theshort-circuit is electrically isolated.

In spur lines, the power supply devices are arranged in series, while inan energy supply which is implemented in ring technology, the powersupply devices according to the present invention for each of theperipheral consumers may be supplied with electrical power from bothsides, outwardly either from the ring input or from the ring output. Inthis way, the isolation of a short-circuit on the ring from both sidesis made possible. In pure spur lines, the consumers which are presentdownstream of a short-circuit or an interruption have no furtherelectrical power supply. In the case of the spur line, the controlcenter is informed in that the unsupplied detectors, control systems,and signaling systems signal the lack of a power supply via the alarmline to the control center.

If, using current ring technology, the ring is supplied with poweroutwardly from the ring input, a counter is activated which counts to apredetermined value and indicates, when this number is reached, that thepower supply from the ring input has not reached the ring output. Thisis a sign that the power supply is to be activated from the ring outputin order to supply all consumers connected to the ring with power,provided they are capable of being reached via the power supply line. Ifa short-circuit and/or overcurrent or an interruption is detected on thepower supply line, a controller of the control center activates meansfor signaling, in order to display this to users. It is possible todiscover creeping short-circuits and interruptions early using ananalog/digital converter which is located in the control center.

In FIG. 1, the configuration of an alarm signaling system as a ring isillustrated as a block diagram. A control center 1 has an alarm lineterminal 2 for the ring input, a power supply terminal 3 for the ringinput, an alarm line terminal 10 for the ring output, and a power supplyterminal 11 for the ring output. Alarm line terminal 2 is connected toalarm line 16. In this example, alarm line 16 is the local securitynetwork (LSN) from Bosch. Alarm line terminal 10 is also connected toalarm line 16. Power supply terminals 3 and 11 are connected to powersupply line 17. Detectors 4, 6, 8, 12, and 14 are connected in series toalarm line 16. Power supply devices 5, 7, 13, and 15 are connected inseries to power supply line 17, while a through-connection exists fordetector 8, since detector 8 may be supplied with power via alarm line16. Power supply devices 5, 7, 13, and 15 have disconnection elements inorder to electrically disconnect the respective power supply lineconnected if a short-circuit condition exists. Control center 1 mayfurther have an analog/digital converter to evaluate whether creepingshort-circuits and/or interruptions exist on power supply line 17.

A supply voltage is relayed to first power supply device 5 from powersupply terminal 3, the first power supply terminal. A small constantvoltage having current limiting is relayed from power supply device 5 asfar as power supply device 7 using a time delay. If the current limitingdoes not respond, after a further time delay the full supply voltage isrelayed to power supply device 7 in second detector 6 without currentlimiting. The procedure proceeds further in this way until power supplydevice 13, as the last in the ring, relays the full supply voltage tocontrol center 1 and therefore to power supply terminal 11 as the secondpower supply terminal.

Detectors 4 and 6 are assigned power supply devices 5 and 7,respectively. Through-connection 9 is assigned to detector 8, sincedetector 8 is supplied with power via alarm line 16. Detectors 12 and 14are assigned power supply devices 13 and 15. Instead of detectors,control systems or signaling systems may also be used. Instead of thefive consumers, which are connected to the ring, illustrated here, agreater or lesser number of consumers is also possible.

If the current limiting responds in a power supply device during relayof the small constant voltage due to a short-circuit, the constantvoltage is removed and the supply voltage is not switched further. Sinceno voltage is received downstream of power supply device 13 at powersupply terminal 11 after the expiration of a predetermined time, thesupply of power supply device 13 is then initiated starting from thisterminal 11. The procedure now proceeds from the other side of the ring,since the power supply devices are symmetrically designed, as shown inFIG. 4.

Alternatively, it is possible that the device according to the presentinvention for power supply of peripheral consumers is implemented as aspur line. Then, however, the control center has only one power supplyterminal. If a short-circuit or an interruption occurs and a powersupply device interrupts the power supply line using a disconnectionelement, the subsequent peripheral consumers are without a power supply.

The concept of peripheral consumers is also used for the detectors,control systems, and signaling systems. The control center has acontroller which may be implemented as a processor or as a control unit.The counter in the control center may count upwards or downwards.

The design of power supply terminal 3 according to the present,invention for the ring input is illustrated as a block diagram in FIG.2. Power supply terminal 3 receives the electrical power from a centralpower supply unit of control center 1 via line 57. Using a currentlimiter 18 and an overcurrent detector 19, an excessive current comingfrom the central power supply unit of control center 1 is prevented frombeing relayed to power supply line 17. This avoids unnecessary load onpower supply line 17 and the elements connected downstream. Currentlimiter 18 may, for example, be implemented using a transistorcontrolled by a current sensor resistor, while overcurrent detector 19may be implemented as a comparator controlled by a current sensorresistor.

The power output of overcurrent detector 19 leads to a switch 20, whichconnects overcurrent detector 19 to power supply line 17 in the closedstate. A data output of overcurrent detector 19 leads to a first datainput of a gate 21 and to a first data input of a memory 23 and to aclock input of a memory 25. Gate 21, whose output leads to switch 20, inorder to switch 20, a gate 22, memory 23, a delay element 24 for thetime delay, memory 25, and a gate 27 form digital controller 29 of powersupply terminal 3.

An output of gate 22 leads to the second data input of gate 21. A seconddata input of memory 23 is connected to the central controller via aline 26 in order to, if necessary, receive a pulse for resetting, whichindicates at the same time that power supply line 17 is to bereconnected to the voltage supply from the central power supply unit viaa line 57. This input is operated during startup or after repair of thepower supply line, for example after a short-circuit on the power supplyline has been eliminated.

Line 26 coming from the central controller leads to a fourth input ofgate 21, a second data input of memory 23, to a second input of gate 27,and to a second data input of memory 25. In the event of a pulse fromthe central controller, the power supply terminal at the ring input isreset, i.e., all memories are reset, and the power supply of theperiphery is switched off and subsequently put into operation again.

The output of memory 23 leads to a first input of gate 22, to an inputof delay element 24, to a first input of gate 27, and also leads to thecontroller via line 55 in order to, if necessary, transmit a signalwhich indicates a short-circuit on power supply line 17. An output ofdelay element 24 leads to a second input of gate 22 and to a data inputof memory 25. The output of memory 25 leads to the third input of gate21 and also to a line 56 via which the signal that power supply terminal3 is switched off is transmitted, if necessary. An output of gate 27leads to power supply terminal 11.

If a short-circuit in power supply terminal 3 of control center 1 isdetected using overcurrent detector 19, a corresponding output signal isgenerated via memory 23, which is implemented as a flip-flop, so thatswitch 20 is finally opened and a short-circuit for power supplyterminal 3 is indicated to the central controller via line 55. Thecontroller is a processor in control center 1, or it may also beimplemented as a control unit.

After the occurrence of the first short-circuit, switch 20 is closedagain after a predetermined time delay, which is set using delay element24, in order to trigger a single new switching-on procedure. It is thenchecked again whether overcurrent detector 19 still indicates anovercurrent, i.e., a short-circuit. If this is the case, gate 21combines these signals and leaves switch 20 opened or opens it, sincememory 25 is driven. Furthermore, the signal that power supply terminal3 is switched off is transmitted to the central controller in alarmsignaling control center 1 via line 56, since a short-circuit is locateddirectly at power supply terminal 3, i.e., on power supply line 17between power supply terminal 3 and power supply device 5.

In FIG. 3, power supply terminal 11 is illustrated as a block diagram inrelation to its internal design. Power supply terminal 11 is connectedto the power supply unit of control center 1 via a line 37. Line 37 isconnected to a current limiter 60. Current limiter 60 is followed by anovercurrent detector 61. A power supply output of overcurrent detector61 leads to a switch 35, which connects overcurrent detector 61, on onehand, to line 17 and, on the other hand, to a voltage detector 31. Adata output of overcurrent detector 61 leads to a first input of amemory 30. Switch 35 is switched by a gate 36, and this is donedepending on the wiring of the inputs of gate 36.

An output of memory 30 is connected to a first input of gate 36. Theoutput of memory 30 leads further to line 38, which is connected to thecontroller of control center 1, in order to, if necessary, transmit thesignal to the controller that a short-circuit is present directly atpower supply terminal 11, i.e., on power supply line 17 between powersupply terminal 11 and power supply device 13. Line 40 is connected to asecond input of gate 36. Line 40 transmits a signal from power supplyterminal 3, which is used for the purpose of controlling digitalcontroller 41 during a startup procedure of the power supply.

A first output of a memory 32 is connected to a third input of gate 36.Line 40 is also connected to a second input of memory 30. Line 40 isalso connected to a first input of memory 32. In addition, line 40 leadsto a inverted input of a time delay 34. An output of time delay 34 leadsto a first input of a gate 33. An output of voltage detector 31 isconnected to a second inverted input of gate 33. An output of gate 33leads to a second input of memory 32. An output of memory 32 leads toline 39, via which the signal that an interruption exists on the ring ofthe power supply line can be transmitted to the controller of controlcenter 1. The interruption on the ring of the power supply line comeseither from a line interruption or from an interruption by a powersupply device 5, 7, 13, or 15 on the ring of the power supply line inthat one of these power supply devices keeps its switch open between twopower supply devices due to a short-circuit.

Time delay 34, gate 33, memories 30, 32, and gate 36 form digitalcontroller 41 of power supply terminal 11.

If voltage detector 31 detects that the intended minimum supply voltagedoes not exist on line 17, voltage detector 31 outputs a signal to gate33, which is implemented as an AND gate. This signal is combined with asignal from time delay 34 which releases the inverted input signal whenthe predetermined time delay has passed. This predetermined time delaycorresponds to the time which is necessary for the power supply to beconnected through all power supply devices to all detectors, controlsystems, and signaling systems. Therefore, if the voltage has not beendetected after the time delay has passed, AND gate 33 drives memory 32,so that memory 32 transmits the signal that a ring interruption existsto control center 1 via line 39. Simultaneously, an inverted signal ofmemory 32 is sent via a second output to gate 36, so that switch 35 maybe closed. Therefore, if a one is used as the signal for the ringinterruption, i.e., from the first output of memory 32, then a zero istransmitted via the second output to gate 36, so that switch 35 isclosed. Therefore, power supply is started from the ring output outward.If the signal that power supply terminal 3 is not supplying line 17 withpower is transmitted via line 28 from FIG. 2 and via line 40, then gate36 ensures that switch 35 is closed in order to supply line 17 outwardlyfrom the ring output.

In this case, a supplying of a part or entire ring of the power supplyline from power supply terminal 11 is thus begun.

If an overcurrent coming from the power supply unit of control center 1is detected by overcurrent detector 61, then the signal from overcurrentdetector 61 drives memory 30, which transmits the signal to gate 36 sothat switch 35 is opened. Simultaneously, the signal that ashort-circuit exists directly at power supply terminal 11 is transmittedto the controller of control center 1 via line 38.

Lines 55, 56, 39, and 38 leading to the control center controller mayalso, using additional gates, be combined into one single line whichrelays the signal that a malfunction exists in general on the powersupply ring. In this case, no details of the malfunction are relayed.

In FIG. 4, the design of a power supply device of a peripheral consumeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention (detector, controlsystem, or signaling system) is illustrated as a block diagram. Thedesign can be identical for each power supply device. A first terminal58, to which power supply line 17 is connectable, and a second powersupply terminal 59 are alternately connectable, therefore it is possibleto supply power to peripheral consumers from two sides.

Terminal 58 is followed, on one hand, by an FET (field effecttransistor) switch 42 and, on the other hand, by a diode 46 in theblocking direction. FET switch 42 includes a parasitic diode and theactual switch. The parasitic diode is conditioned by the electricalproperties of an FET, while the switch is, for example, implemented bydepleting or enhancing the channel by a gate voltage. Other circuitbreakers are also possible as alternatives to the FET switch.

The switch of FET switch 42 is connected to an output of a memory 54, sothat memory 54 controls FET switch 42. The output of memory 54 isfurther connected to the control input of FET switch 51. Therefore,memory 54 closes both FET switches 42 and 51 in parallel or opens themin parallel.

A signal output of an overcurrent detector 45 is connected to one inputof memory 54. A first output of a time delay 48 is connected to a clockinput of memory 54, which is, for example, implemented as a D-flip-flop.Thus, if an overcurrent is detected, i.e., a short-circuit exists, thenmemory 54 leaves FET switches 42 and 51 in the open state. Overcurrentdetector 45 detects the overcurrent from a constant voltage source 44having overcurrent limiting. This constant voltage source 44 is switchedvia a switch 43 which is, in turn, controlled by an AND gate 52. Thefirst output of time delay 48 is connected to an inverted input at ANDgate 52 and a second output of time delay 48 is connected to an input.Time delay 48 receives a signal from a minimum voltage detector 47 viaits input. Minimum voltage detector 47 detects whether the minimumvoltage exists on power supply line 17, so that the short-circuit testis informative using the small constant voltage. FET switches 42 and 51may be closed in order to connect the current through to the next powersupply device on the ring via power supply line 17. If minimum voltagedetector 47 detects that this voltage does not exist, switches 42, 43,and 51 are not closed.

Upon the application of a supply voltage from terminal 58, with FETswitches 42 and 51 being open and memory 54 being reset, a sufficientvoltage is detected by minimum voltage detector 47 via the diode ofswitch 42. The following procedure then begins: after a time delay of3/4 T has passed, i.e., the third element of time delay 48, the constantvoltage is connected through from constant voltage source 44 to terminal59. In the event an overcurrent is detected, memory 54 is kept at thestate zero, after the time delay of one T has passed, i.e., the fourthelement of time delay 48 having the first output, and FET switches 42and 51, remain open. If an overcurrent is not detected, the state one ismaintained in memory 54 at the output. Therefore, the FET switches aredigitally controlled using the output of memory 54 in order to connectthrough power supply line 17.

The detector to be supplied, which is assigned to the power supplydevice, receives its supply via connection 60. If this is, for example,power supply device 5, associated detector 4 is supplied via connection60.

According to a particular embodiment, the power supply device includesan additional switch if necessary, which is digitally switched on usingtime delay 1/2 T, i.e., the second element of time delay 48. If thedetector to be supplied, the control system to be supplied, or thesignaling system to be supplied is a consumer which has a powerconsumption having strongly elevated starting current during applicationof the power supply, for example having a switching voltage transformerin its own power supply circuit or components having an identicaleffect, then this refinement of the power supply device may be provided.The detector is then not connected via connection 60, but rather viaswitch 49 and possibly a fuse 50.

In another embodiment, the control center includes an analog/digitalconverter, with the aid of which the voltage at the location of voltagedetector 31 in power supply terminal 11 is monitored for changes duringoperation and possibly the current in power supply terminal 3 is alsomonitored. In this way it is possible to discover creepingshort-circuits and creeping interruptions early.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for supplying electrical power to a detector, a control system, and a signaling system which are connectable to an alarm line, comprising: a control center connectable to the alarm line and to a power supply line, the control center including: a controller, a signaling arrangement, and a first power supply terminal having a first overcurrent detector, a first overcurrent limiter, and a first disconnection element, wherein the detector, the control system, and the signaling system are each connectable to a respective power supply device, each power supply device including a second overcurrent detector, a second overcurrent limiter, and a second disconnection element, and each power supply device being connectable to the power supply line.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each power supply device is configured to keep the second disconnection element open if an overcurrent on the power supply line is detected by the second overcurrent detector during a startup of a power supply.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply line is arranged as a ring.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the control center further includes: a second power supply terminal at a ring output, the second power supply terminal including a counter, a third overcurrent detector, a third overcurrent limiter, and a third disconnection element, wherein the control center starts the counter when the control center connects the power supply line to a ring input using electrical power, and wherein if the ring output does not have voltage after the counter has expired, the second power supply terminal connects the ring output to an electrical energy source.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the detector, the control system, and the signaling system outputs a notification to the control center via the alarm line that the one of the detector, the control system, and the signaling system is supplied with electrical power.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to induce the signaling arrangement to output a corresponding signal when an overcurrent is detected by the first overcurrent detector.
 7. The device of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to induce the signaling arrangement to output a corresponding signal if the controller determines from a status message that at least one power supply device is not supplied with power.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second disconnection element, the second overcurrent detector, and the second overcurrent limiter are located in a housing separate from a housing for the detector, the control system and the signaling system.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the control center further includes an analog/digital converter connectable to the power supply line. 